Exercise chair methods and apparatus
A back stretching exercise apparatus includes a base configured to occupy a stable upright position on top of an underlying floor surface, an upper body support configured to support a person's back, and a lower body support configured to support at least the lower halves of a person's legs. Each support is operatively connected to the base to accommodate a person occupying a back relaxing position with his lower legs resting on the lower body support, his back pressing against a portion of the upper body support facing generally toward the lower body support, and his hips lowered into a gap between the upper body support and the lower body support to establish a generally V-shape between his upper legs and his torso and to place his lower lumbar region in gentle traction.
1 . An exercise apparatus for use by a person, comprising:
a frame configured to occupy a stable upright position relative to an underlying floor surface, wherein the frame defines a front end and a rear end;
a backrest configured to underlie and support the person's back, wherein the backrest is movably mounted on the frame for movement through a range of orientations, including 30 degrees from vertical; and
a leg rest configured to underlie and support the person's legs, wherein the leg rest is operatively connected to the frame for movement between a first position, defining a first distance between the rear end of the frame and a rearwardmost portion of the leg rest, and a second position, defining a second distance between the rear end of the frame and the rearwardmost portion of the leg rest, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, and the leg rest is disposed forward of the backrest and cooperates with the backrest to define a variable length gap between the leg rest and the backrest, and the gap increases in length in response to movement of the backrest toward a more vertical orientation, and the gap decreases in length in response to movement of the backrest toward a more horizontal orientation, and the gap increases in length in response to movement of the leg rest toward the second position, and the gap decreases in length in response to movement of the leg rest toward the first position, wherein a person's buttocks spans the gap without any underlying support.
2 . The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the backrest includes an inflatable, approximately hemispherical bladder configured and arranged to underlie and engage the person's lower back.
3 . The exercise apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable bladder is a smaller diameter equivalent of a BOSU™ ball that defines an outwardly convex surface configured and arranged to engage the person's lumbar region.
4 . The exercise apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the convex surface defines a diameter of approximately 18 inches, and a height of approximately 7 inches, wherein the height is measured perpendicular to the diameter from a midpoint along the diameter.
5 . The exercise apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising adjusting means for adjusting air pressure inside the bladder.
6 . The exercise apparatus of claim 5 , wherein when the backrest approaches a horizontal orientation the bladder must be underinflated to be flush with a top surface of the leg rest.
7 . The exercise apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the backrest is pivotally mounted on the frame with play for pivoting about a pivot axis and wiggling relative to the pivot axis, and the pivot axis traverses the bladder.
8 . The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the leg rest defines a first leg engaging surface that is cushioned, faces upward, and measures at least 12 inches fore to aft and at least 18 inches left to right.
9 . The exercise apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the leg rest defines a second leg engaging surface that is cushioned, faces rearward, and measures at least 6 inches vertically and at least 18 inches left to right.
10 . The exercise apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the leg rest defines a third leg engaging surface that is cushioned and forms a curved and uninterrupted transitional juncture between the first leg engaging surface and the second leg engaging surface.
11 . The exercise apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the backrest is selectively pivotal to an operative orientation, wherein the backrest is engaging the person's back, and the second leg engaging surface is engaging the person's upper legs, and an angle of thirty degrees is defined between the second leg engaging surface and said operative orientation.
12 . The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the leg rest includes a rearward section and a forward section, and the forward section is movably connected to the rearward section for movement between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the first orientation accommodates mounting and dismounting the apparatus, and the second orientation supports the user's legs during use of the apparatus.
13 . The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the backrest is free to pivot through a prescribed range of orientations from predominantly vertical to at least 30 degrees from vertical.
14 . The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a reorienting means for selectively reorienting the backrest relative to the frame.
15 . The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a repositioning means for selectively repositioning the leg rest relative to the frame.
16 . The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the leg rest is movable between the first position and the second position while the backrest remains in a fixed orientation.
17 . The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the backrest is pivotally mounted on the frame with some play to accommodate wiggle of the backrest relative to the frame, as well as pivoting of the backrest through said range of orientations relative to the frame.
18 . A back stretching chair, comprising:
a base configured to occupy a stable upright position relative to an underlying floor surface;
a backrest movably mounted on the frame for movement through a range of orientations, including 30 degrees from vertical, wherein the backrest has an upper portion configured and arranged to engage and support a person's middle back and upper back, and a lower portion configured and arranged to engage and support a person's lower back, wherein the lower portion includes an inflatable, approximately hemispherical dome; and
a lower body support configured to engage and support a person's legs, wherein the lower body support is disposed in front of the backrest and cooperates with the backrest to accommodate a person occupying an upright seated position with his legs resting on the lower body support at an elevation above his hips, his upper back and middle back supported in a predominantly vertical orientation by the upper portion of the backrest, his lower back pressing against the inflated dome, and his buttocks occupying a gap between the upper body support and the lower body support.
19 . The chair of claim 18 , further comprising an adjusting means for adjusting pressure inside the dome.
20 . The chair of claim 19 , wherein the adjusting means includes a pump and at least one valve operatively interconnected between the pump and the dome.
21 . An exercise apparatus for use by a person, comprising:
a frame configured to occupy a stable upright position relative to an underlying floor surface;
a backrest operatively mounted on the frame for pivoting about a pivot axis through a range of orientations from a predominantly vertical orientation to a predominantly horizontal orientation, wherein the backrest includes a cushioned back support configured and arranged to underlie and support the person's upper back and head, and an inflated dome traversed by the pivot axis and configured and arranged to underlie and support the person's lower back; and
a leg rest configured to underlie and support the person's legs, wherein the leg rest defines a cushioned leg supporting surface that measures at least twelve inches fore to aft and at least eighteen inches left to right, and the leg rest is operatively mounted on the frame forward of the backrest to define a variable length gap between the leg rest and the backrest, and the gap increases in length in response to movement of the backrest toward a more vertical orientation, and the gap decreases in length in response to movement of the backrest toward a more horizontal orientation, wherein the leg rest and the backrest cooperate to support the person in a seated position with the person's buttocks spanning the gap without any underlying support.
22 . The exercise apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the leg rest is selectively movable forward and rearward relative to the frame, and the gap increases in length in response to forward movement of the leg rest, and the gap decreases in length in response to rearward movement of the leg rest.